عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

4.7 Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles Area

FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
TT
TT

4.7 Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles Area

FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area Thursday morning, swaying lamps and jolting some people from bed. No injuries or damages were immediately reported.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered 4 miles (7 kilometers) north of Malibu and was about 7 miles (11 kilometers) below the surface.
The jolt was felt as far as 45 miles (72 kilometers) away in Orange County, where people reported items moving in their homes, The Associated Press reported.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said fire authorities were surveying the city for damage, as was the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Rene Vasquez, manager at The Country Kitchen breakfast place in Malibu, said the shaking lasted a few seconds and kitchen staff ducked outside as a precaution, but there was no damage.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Vasquez said. “Thank God nothing fell.”
People, including several celebrities, took to social media to post they were awakened by a jolt.
Hotel heiress and media personality Paris Hilton wrote on X, “That #Earthquake was scary.” Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian posted: “Damn that was a big one.”
Some residents said they were alerted by the state’s earthquake early warning system.
The quake comes as the region has been dealing with three major wildfires burning east of Los Angeles that torched dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. The blazes erupted during a blistering heat wave that has just subsided.
A number of quakes have been felt in the area in recent months, including a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in August that rattled nerves from the Los Angeles area to San Diego, swaying buildings, knocking items off shelves and setting off car alarms. The temblor caused a pipe to burst at the ornate 1927 Pasadena City Hall building.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
TT
TT

Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

China will "crush" any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defense forum.

Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China's increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.

In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Speaking to a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum, Chinese army Lieutenant General He Lei said: "We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace."

But, he said, "if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People's Liberation Army... will never have any patience.”

"We in the Chinese People's Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China's territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means," He said.

On Wednesday, China and the Philippines held what they called "candid" talks on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has become a hotspot for recent bilateral clashes.

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coast guard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation," a readout from the Philippine foreign ministry said.

And on Thursday, Lieutenant General He said a resolution to tensions between Beijing and Washington over the issue "depends on the United States.”

He also confirmed that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase would attend this week's Xiangshan forum in Beijing.

"I hope that during his visit, during his meetings here, Michael Chase will listen more to the voices of China and the Chinese military," he said.

"The message we are sending to the United States is that we want the two countries and armies to be partners, to be friends, we want to pursue China-US relations featuring win-win cooperation," he said.

"We want the United States to make more contributions to regional and world peace, security and stability," he added.

Scores of delegates were in the Chinese capital Thursday for the Xiangshan forum, dubbed China's answer to Singapore's annual "Shangri-La" meeting.

It is set to host more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations, organisers have said.

Official speeches are expected on Friday, when the forum's opening ceremony will take place and top military representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and others will participate in roundtable discussions.